MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2000

Homecoming can wait for Columbian grad in Tigers farm system

By Dave Feltner
Sports Editor

Jamie Detillion was to have come home Friday, until fate intervened.

Detillion, a 1996 graduate of Columbian who was signed by the Detroit Tigers earlier this summer, had just completed his Rookie League season with the Gulf Coast Tigers and was ready to board a plane when his manager called.

He told Detillion to cancel his flight because he was moving up to the Tigers' Class A Gulf Coast team, bringing him two levels of minor league ball away from the big leagues.

"It's weird because I thought (Saturday) was going to be the day they'd tell me if they wanted me to come back to spring training, or (tell me) 'you're gone,' " Detillion said. "Because they made this move, I hope they still have me in mind."

That's likely the case, considering the left-handed Detillion posted in Rookie ball.

In 16 appearances (one start), Detillion went 5-3 with two saves and a 2.60 ERA. In 34 2/3 innings he struck out 29 batters, walked 10, gave up 23 hits and allowed just 10 earned runs.

"Overall, I thought I came down here and pitched pretty well," Detillion said. "My hits were low and my strikeouts to walks were pretty low, too. The key has been just throwing strikes. You need to mix it up and keep hitters off balance, and I've done a good job of that. It's when you start walking people when you get into trouble. You have to make the hitter hit your pitch."

That philosophy, and the success, carried over into Detillion's first game with the Class A Gulf Coast Tigers, who play in the Florida State League.

Saturday night, Detillion pitched one-two-three inning for his new team.

"The Tigers have two teams (in Gulf Coast), but you can really tell the difference," Detillion said. "The clubhouse is the same one the Tigers use in spring training, and they really treat you first class here."

Detillion has one more of semester of college to complete, and that was to have started today. He also was slated to be the pitching coach for Ashland College, but injuries within the Tigers organization prompted Detillion's move to single-A.

"I haven't gotten ahold of (the Ashland coach) yet to tell him I won't be back yet, but I don't think he'll mind," Detillion joked. "Two or three years ago I would have never dreamed I'd make it this far. I never planned on making it this far so this is really special to me.

"With the injuries, there's been a lot of moving around (within the organization)," he said. "I hope they moved me up because they want to get a look at me and not because they wanted to fill a roster spot. I really have nothing to lose, so I just go out there and lay it all on the line every time I step on the field. I just have to hope the right person is looking at me at the right time and somebody gives me a chance."